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WILSON’S MOUTH, Virginia – With nine full months before college coaches can contact him directly, per NCAA rules, Howard Williams Jr. is too young for the recruitment process to reach an overwhelming level.
Quite the contrary, the 6-foot-7 sophomore is still excited to see college coaches parked on the sidelines of Oak Hill Academy’s practice fields since the NCAA recruiting period began Sept. 4.
“It’s a lot of fun for me,” Williams said. “I’m just excited to see all the coaches and stuff. That’s what I’m really into, so I’m loving it at this point.”
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Even as a sophomore, college coaches have a mutual affection for Williams, following a dominant summer in the Nike EYBL E15 League where he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game for Mean Streets.
That has already earned him offers from South Carolina State, Northern Illinois and Illinois.
Louisiana State University, Arkansas and Indiana State, where he plans to attend next month, have all initiated the recruiting process through Williams’ coach.
“Like I said, it’s all new to me, so I’m having fun,” Williams said. “It’s my first visit! I’m always surrounded by guys who have been through the recruiting process or are still going through it, and they say how much fun it is. I just want to experience it, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Williams was the star of Wednesday’s game where Creighton head coach Greg McDermott said from the sidelines as he watched him score three-pointers after three and lead his team to consistent victories.
“It’s cool to see the coaches on the sidelines watching and talking to them after games,” said Williams, who is ranked No. 52 overall in the Rivals100 for 2027. “It really makes me want to work hard. I stay humble in everything I do, but I really work hard to be the best.”
Williams’ size and skill set made for a devastating combination for his teammates during the scrum. His particular blend of pace and knowledge of the game as a playmaker made him a difficult player to bring down throughout the afternoon.
“I think what sets me apart is my size and my footwork,” Williams said. “I’m one of those guys that can do everything on the field, so it’s harder to stop them.”
Williams transferred to Oak Hill this season from Chicago’s Whitney Young star team to play in the highly competitive Nike EYBL Scholastic where he will face other top teams like IMG Academy, Montverde Academy and Link Academy, among others.
“I can’t wait,” Williams said. “I love the competition. It’s the best part of the game for me. I want to play against the best because I want to be the best. That’s the only way to get there.”
